Tell us about Your Dumbest Investment... and the lesson you learned from it.

AnakinSpice:

On a whim I invested in a gold mine stock. I started at $13 and when I finally admitted defeat, I sold at $4. I learned to research first, and to not act on a whim secondly.

The Fool:

What's your favorite activity (within the realm of good taste)?

AnakinSpice:

One of them would have to be gardening. Or, actually just working in my yard. It's big, and at first it was a labor, but I've come to look forward to the solitude and hard work it provides.

If I can spare the time, then I zip to the town next to me over to a friend's house. There, we pop open a few good beers (not the yellow foam water that you get at football games or at frat parties), pull out the guitars and laugh and yowl over everything from 50's to 90's music.

The Fool:

As you were growing up (or now, raising children), did your family have any distinctive rituals or practices others might do well to emulate?

AnakinSpice:

There are many habits that we feel are essential to our growth as a family. Have dinner together - every night. Have rituals for holidays ... Christmas Eve we have a special dinner - Christmas morning a special breakfast. We always make a habit of being social at a gathering and pass that on to our kids also - too many people keep to themselves at gatherings. Reading ... EVERY night to our kids - very important! Let them play my guitar at least once a week - hey - it's something we can do together that i hope they'll remember years from now!

The Fool:

Describe the most embarrassing personal moment you'll admit to!

AnakinSpice:

Announcing my infatuation of a woman I had a long time crush on to my boss via email. Never realizing that she was sitting beside him on his PC working on a project.

The Fool:

Give a short description of your best and/or worst vacation.

AnakinSpice:

Best and worse - Jamaica. Went with a friend. We felt very comfortable walking the back streets of Cambridge / Allston / Boston late at night. Try doing that in Jamaica! We though we were going to end up ganga fertilizer! We stayed in our resort for the rest of the vacation and had a GREAT time!

Breaking the cycle that is prevelant in my family of divorce. I'm the only one (out of 5 siblings) who waited to get married and have kids. I am still married - with *many* more years to go!

The Fool:

Share with us your best money-saving secret -- cutting coupons, sneaking candy into the movies, shopping on Wednesday and pretending you're over 65?

AnakinSpice:

Simply waiting a week before I purchase anything! You'd be astounded at how your needs turn into wants with a weeks buffer between them.

The Fool:

What's been your best investment to date, and how did you discover it?

AnakinSpice:

My PC. It opened a brave new world at home. While at work, you naturally have to keep the surfing down, but at home ... vacation planning ... money saving ... mortgages ... beatles ... reading ... online studies ... and so much more! Well worth the price of the PC.

The Fool:

Do you have a favorite company or stock which the worldwide Foolish community should know about -- and why?

AnakinSpice:

Segue. They make software that tests an e-commerce web site to see if it can withstand the rigors of real world hits. For a long term investment I feel that this one is positioned quite well.

The Fool:

List some of your favorite websites, with running commentary where appropriate. (Please provide the URLs, too.)